The Obama administration is preparing to crack down on sanctuary cities, Attorney General Loretta Lynch told Congress on Wednesday, saying she would try to stop federal grant money from going to jurisdictions that actively thwart agents seeking to deport illegal immigrants.

Her announcement marks a major policy reversal for the administration, which for years has opposed legislation that would have forced such a crackdown.

The federal Bureau of Prisons will now try to deport illegal immigrants rather than turn them over to sanctuary cities, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Wednesday in a bid to solve the situation that may have led to the death of Kathryn Steinle last summer.

Ms. Lynch also said she’ll begin an audit of sanctuary cities to see if they’re violating federal law, and those that are found to be actively stymying immigration agents’ work could lose grant funding.

The attorney general was responding to requests from Rep. John Culberson, a Texas Republican and chairman of the spending subcommittee that oversees the Justice Department.

“This is a very significant change, and we’re deeply grateful,” Mr. Culberson said.

He said his staff would provide a list to Ms. Lynch of cities and counties that try to thwart deportations, and he hopes the Justice Department will follow up on that list.

God knows what explains this reversal. I seriously doubt the Obama administration was enlightened on immigration policy by the Trump campaign.

I won’t buy it until President Obama utters the phrase, “if you like your sanctuary city, you can keep your sanctuary city.”

Lieutenant Colonel West served 22 years in the United States Army and was elected to serve in the United States Congress in 2010. Allen is a Fox News Contributor and author of Guardian of the Republic: An American Ronin’s Journey to Faith, Family and Freedom.